Atletico Madrid 5-2 Tottenham Hotspur result: Nightmare night as Igor Tudor’s Spurs concede five and Antonin Kinsky subbed off inside 20 minutes

Champions League / Last 16

Riyadh Air Metropolitano / 10.03.2026

Atlético Madrid

Finished

Tottenham Hotspur

P. Porro(26')
D. Solanke(76')

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Highlights

ATLETICO MADRID MAKE SHAMBOLIC SPURS PAY

Atletico Madrid have one foot in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League after ripping a shambolic Tottenham Hotspur apart in a remarkable first leg in Madrid.

Three catastrophic errors inside the first 15 minutes had the home side 3-0 up, as Antonin Kinsky and Micky van de Ven both slipped to lead to goals from Marcos Llorente and the outstanding Antoine Griezmann. And things went from bad to worse when a shell-shocked Kinsky shanked a clearance to leave Julian Alvarez with a tap-in on 15 minutes as Spurs collapsed.

Interim head coach Igor Tudor acted immediately and ruthlessly, hauling off Kinsky after just 16 minutes of his Champions League debut but Spurs conceded a fourth five minutes later as a header from Robin Le Normand squeezed over the line after Guglielmo Vicario had made a good initial save.

Highlights: Spurs collapse in Madrid as keeper Kinsky hooked after 17 minutes

Video credit: TNT Sports

Despite the tactical disarray, Spurs still kept trying and they pulled one back through Pedro Porro’s excellent finish on 26 minutes, before hitting a post through a Cristian Romero header before the break.

Tudor changed things up at half-time, but Spurs’ season was summed up on 55 minutes when Richarlison’s free header was superbly saved by Jan Oblak, with Atletico launching a brilliant counterattack and scoring through Alvarez at the other end just 12 seconds after the ball had left Richarlison’s head.

Dominic Solanke bagged another consolation after good pressing from Porro, giving Spurs the faintest of hope in the tie, but the night ended with a further setback as Romero and Palhinha clashed heads, with both players leaving the field.

Spurs will host Atletico in a week’s time, but require a miracle to rescue their European campaign, while the chaos of their performances feel like they are going to need something special to pull themselves out of trouble in the Premier League.

MORE FROM MCMANAMAN

It’s fair to say that Steve McManaman is not impressed with Igor Tudor tonight, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if this is the interim coach’s last game in charge.

Here’s what the TNT Sports pundit had to say in the studio:

"All we can see is what goes on on the pitch, and it looks very chaotic. His choice of players, he seems to change it around a lot. He doesn't stick to playing the best players in their positions and being strong.

"In times of trouble, we get back, condensed, defend. There's no plan. It seems to be, I'll put 11 players on the pitch, and if it doesn't go right, I'll put three more on and take three off.

"Why isn't Palhinha sitting in the middle of the park tonight and shutting things down? He mustn't fancy him, or maybe he doesn't have enough knowledge of the players.

"When I look at them now, it's like a rudderless ship. I don't know who is the chief exec, I don't know who's the sporting director if they have one. I just know they catapulted Igor Tudor in to stop the rot and it's not happening at all."

Tudor has decided his own fate after Atleti loss - McManaman

Video credit: TNT Sports

JOE HART REACTS TO SPURS’ DISASTROUS SITUATION

"Honestly, they're in such a difficult position as a club. As you say, it's not just all his (Tudor’s) fault. He's walked into a club that's been struggling for a little while now. But you bring someone in to lead the ship. When Daniel Levy was there he very much felt the brunt when Spurs were struggling. But at the moment, who's at the top of the chain? We don't know who's in charge or what's going on."

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MCMANAMAN: TUDOR HAS DECIDED HIS OWN FATE

"He was brought in for an immediate bounce, immediate reaction, because that is what his career as a manager is all about," Steve McManaman says of interim Tottenham manager Igor Tudor.

"He goes into clubs, gets an immediate reaction, gets results, then six months later may leave the club. It was an unusual appointment. I don't think even the ardent Tottenham fan could see Igor Tudor being parachuted in to save them.

"It wasn't just the performance tonight, it was everything on the periphery. The peripheral nonsense on the goalkeepers, how he chose his team, his set-up.

"At half-time he's gone back to bringing on Solanke, who you thought should have played, Conor Gallagher, Xavi Simons, Palhinha, who would've been ideal for tonight.

"He's almost decided his own fate, really, tonight. Every decision he's made he's gone against it at half-time. It was a surreal performance."

Tudor slammed for 'cold' reaction to Kinsky sub - 'Man management at its very worst'

Video credit: TNT Sports

TUDOR’S FUTURE IN DOUBT AFTER NEGATIVE IMPACT

Spurs were in free-fall under Thomas Frank and had been playing dreadful football for months, so making a change was the right decision. But it’s hard to imagine an interim appointment being quite as disastrous as that of Igor Tudor’s so far. He’s been in charge for four games, has conceded an absolute bucket-load of goals, has lost all four, and has probably made Spurs even worse… which was a tough ask. Will the Tottenham hierarchy pull the trigger and make a second managerial change? They might have to.

Full time

FULL-TIME: ATLETICO MADRID 5-2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

The final whistle goes and the Atletico players embrace after a performance that has put them on the cusp of qualification for the quarter-finals.

91'

PALHINHA TAKEN OFF AND ROMERO IN TROUBLE TOO

The Spurs midfielder is taken off, presumably after failing a concussion test. It’s hardly surprising – that was an almighty impact. Romero is also down on his haunches as play resumes. I’m not sure he’s okay either to be truthful.

90'

ROMERO AND PALHINHA CLASH HEADS

Both Romero and Palhinha come in to try and win a header with Sorloth, and the two Spurs players thump at full pace, heading each other. There’s going to be a stoppage here while they are checked. Neither looks particularly comfortable.

90'

ADDED TIME

There will be three minutes of time added on, which feels a bit short given how this game has gone.

88'

DANSO MISJUDGES THE HEADER

A long ball forward drifts over the head of Danso and Porro does well to mop up behind him and win the foul. That would likely have been a sixth were it not for the right-back’s alert response.

85'

YELLOW CARD

Romero wins a header against Simeone, who collapses to the turf as if he’s been shot. It’s maybe a foul, but the ref buys it and books Romero, who shakes his head as he walks away.

Yellow card

C. Romero

Tottenham Hotspur

83'

LATE CHANGE FOR SPURS

Spence, who is just back from injury, is withdrawn to make space for Xavi Simons as Spurs push for late goals. As he goes off, Spence takes a seat on the bench then gets back up and walks to the sideline to acknowledge his manager, who has not shaken the hand of a single player coming off tonight. That’s not nothing, and it was spotted by the guys in the TNT commentary box:

Fletch: "Spence, out of picture, just walked to the bench, got off the bench and walked to the touchline to acknowledge his manager. Not the other way round.

"Spence has just gone to Tudor, tapped Tudor on the shoulder, and shaken his manager's hand. I don't know whether he's making a point.

"No idea, but I watched it, based on what's been happening tonight. It's not something you see. I'm not trying to pour oil on the flames, I'm just reporting what I see."

Ally: "As if to say, 'this is what we do here'."

Substitution in

X. Simons

Tottenham Hotspur

Substitution out

D. Spence

Tottenham Hotspur

81'

A GRIEZMANN MASTERCLASS

The majestic Antoine Griezmann makes way after a performance that rolled back the years. He has been the best player on the pitch tonight by a long, long way.

Substitution in

Koke

Atlético Madrid

Substitution out

A. Griezmann

Atlético Madrid

80'

YELLOW CARD

Danso takes one for the team to halt a counter-attack and is booked.

Yellow card

K. Danso

Tottenham Hotspur

78'

VAN DE VEN SHOOTS OVER

Spurs are pushing for the late goals that would keep them in this tie. Another excellent delivery in from the right, this time from Solanke, very nearly finds Gray in the middle. Spence keeps it alive at the far post and lays the ball off for Van de Ven, but the centre-back shoots over.

76'

GOAL! ATLETICO MADRID 5-2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (SOLANKE)

Spurs have another one back. Atletico make a right hash of playing the ball out from the back as Spurs pounce. Porro wins the ball back with the intense press, feeds Solanke, and the England forward smashes home the finish. It’s only 5-2 but there’s the faintest sniff of a chance.

Solanke restores Spurs belief after Oblak mistake

Video credit: TNT Sports

Goal

D. Solanke

Tottenham Hotspur

73'

ANOTHER CHANGE FOR ATLETICO

The outstanding Alvarez is withdrawn on a night where he has been absolutely electric up top for Atletico.

Substitution in

N. González

Atlético Madrid

Substitution out

J. Álvarez

Atlético Madrid

71'

ROMERO RECOVERS FROM ANOTHER SLIP

Spurs look to mop up as Atletico come forward again. Romero slips and does well from the floor to work the ball away from the pouncing players in red and white. That is the TENTH time that a Spurs player has slipped this evening. Something isn’t right.

68'

CHANGES FOR ATLETICO

Simeone turns to his bench and brings on his top-scorer Sorlov for Llorente. Things aren’t going to get any easier for Spurs against the towering centre-forward. He’s on fire this season. Barrios also comes on, replacing Lookman.

Substitution in

A. Sørloth

Atlético Madrid

Substitution out

M. Llorente

Atlético Madrid

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